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Long Beach Shares Video Series to Help Residents Understand Civic Technology
By Staff Writer
Published on Thu, Dec 11, 2025
The City of Long Beach Department of Technology and Innovation (TID) has launched a new series of short educational videos designed to make the City’s use of civic technology easier to understand. The series aims to increase transparency around how data is collected and used, while helping residents better understand their digital rights.
Blending humor, storytelling and insights from City staff and subject-matter experts, the videos break down complex technology topics into content that’s approachable, engaging and fun to watch.
The first video, now live on the City’s website and YouTube channel, highlights why personal privacy matters in today’s digital world. Inspired by classic educational shows like Bill Nye the Science Guy and How It’s Made, the series uses a playful, step-by-step format to explain how different technologies work.
Upcoming episodes will spotlight technologies already operating in Long Beach neighborhoods, such as smart lampposts and automatic license plate readers. Each episode will explore what a technology does, how it’s used and what residents should know about the data behind it. New videos will be shared monthly through City newsletters, social media and the City’s website.
Residents are encouraged to:
- Watch the videos on the City’s website at longbeach.gov or YouTube @LongBeachCityCA
- Explore and learn more about the technologies deployed throughout the City on the Digital Rights Platform.
- Share feedback on the videos via this community survey.
This new “edutainment” series is part of the City’s broader commitment to transparency and ethical, responsible use of technology. In line with Recommendation #10 of the Data Privacy Guidelines Implementation Plan, the videos help raise public awareness about data privacy and explain how civic technologies operate.
The effort builds on the Smart City Initiative, launched in 2019, and complements the City’s new Digital Rights Platform — a public transparency tool that outlines how data is collected and managed across more than two dozen civic technologies.
